Pneumatic Tire Stone Ejector Projections on Block Flanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic vehicle tire designs with narrow circumferential channels struggle to incorporate effective stone ejectors due to limited space, leading to increased rolling resistance and wear, as well as a higher risk of stone entrapment and damage.
Innovation Solution
Positioning stone ejector projections at T-shaped intersections and attaching them to the opposite block flank, with specific dimensions and orientations to ensure stability and effectiveness, even in narrow channels, thereby reducing the risk of stone entrapment and enhancing ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If narrow circumferential channels are used to reduce rolling resistance and improve wear performance, then rolling resistance decreases and wear performance improves, but stone ejectors cannot be effectively positioned and the risk of stone entrapment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions stone ejector positioning from the channel base (2D surface) to the block flank (vertical dimension), utilizing the third dimension to accommodate ejectors in narrow channels where horizontal space is limited. This dimensional shift allows effective stone ejection functionality to be maintained despite reduced channel width.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different functional qualities to different locations: the block flank opposite the opening-in channel is equipped with stone ejector projections, while other areas maintain their original characteristics. This localized functional differentiation enables stone ejection capability specifically where needed without compromising the overall narrow channel design.
2Loss of energy
If narrow circumferential channels are used, then rolling resistance decreases, but the channel base width becomes insufficient for positioning stone ejectors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves stone ejector placement from the horizontal channel base to the vertical block flank surface, utilizing the unused vertical space on the block flank. This allows narrow channel bases (3.0-6.0 mm) to accommodate functional ejectors that would otherwise require insufficient horizontal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The stone ejector projections are designed with specific dimensional relationships (width 90-120% of opening-in channel width, height 10-80% of profile depth) that allow them to function effectively in the constrained space of narrow channels while maintaining adaptability to different channel configurations.
3Reliability
If wide channel bases are used to position stone ejectors, then stone ejection functionality is maintained, but rolling resistance increases and wear performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates stone ejectors from the channel base (requiring wide horizontal space) to the block flank (utilizing vertical space). This dimensional relocation enables effective stone ejection functionality to be achieved without increasing channel base width, thereby maintaining narrow channel dimensions for low rolling resistance.
4Reliability
If stone ejectors are positioned on channel bases, then they can prevent stone entrapment, but they require sufficient channel width and cannot be used in narrow channels
Solution Approach 1:
The invention shifts stone ejector positioning from the channel base (2D horizontal surface) to the block flank (vertical surface), enabling the same stone entrapment prevention functionality to be achieved in narrow channels where horizontal space is constrained but vertical space is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a localized stone ejection function on the block flank opposite the opening-in channel, concentrating the anti-stone-entrapment capability precisely where stones are most likely to become trapped, without requiring wide channel bases throughout the entire channel structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread with profile block rows (1, 2) with profile blocks (5) delimited by channels (3, 4), which channels (3, 4) form T-shaped intersections in plan view and are delimited by a channel base (6, 6′) and by block flanks (5a, 5′a), wherein, in channels (3), there are formed projections (7, 7′) which, in a radial direction, have at their highest point a height (h1, h1′), in relation to the lowest point of the channels (3), of 10% to 80% of the profile depth. The projections (7, 7′) are positioned in intersection regions of T-shaped intersections of the channels (3, 4) and are attached to that block flank (5a) which is situated opposite the opening-in point of the opening-in channel (4).